Bedřich Smetana

Born: 2 March 1824, Litomyšl, Czech Republic

Died: 12 May 1884, Prague, Czech Republic

The father of Czech opera. A gifted melodist, probably best known for the symphonic poems Má vlast (“My homeland”).Wrote nine operas drawing on Czech history and myth, including The Bartered Bride, a skillful mixture of comedy and melancholy.